Electric stop-motion for knitting-machines.



N0. 808,475. PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. A. L. PATTERSON.

ELECTRIC STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILEDPEBJO. 1905.

3 SHBETSSHEET l.

ATTORNEYS v No. 808,475. PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. A. L. PATTERSON. ELECTRIC STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.10. 1905. v

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INVENTOR JZrZZar Z .faiinson,

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ATTORNEYS WITNESSES: @W 6%,

No. 808,475. PATENTBD DEC. 26, 1905. A. L. PATTERSON.

ELECTRIC STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.10.1905.

3 SHEETS-$HEET 3.

W/TNESSES: INVENTOR 6 fl ZZar Z falersoia ATTORNEYS to show the belt-shifting mechanism.

UNITED STATES Parana OFFICE.

ELECTRIC STOP-IVIOTION FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed February 10,1905. Serial No, 245,064.

To all whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Low PATTER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albemarle, in the county of Stanley and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Stop- Motions for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric stop-motions for knittingmachines.

It is an improvement upon the device shown and described in my previous patent, No. 727,429, May 5, 1903; and it consists in the improved construction and arrangement of the movable parts operated upon by the yarn and also in the provision for applying the device to that form of knitting-machine which carries its yarn-bobbins on a revolving frame above the knitting-machine, as will be hereinafter fully described with reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a knittingmachine arranged for carrying revolving yarn-bobbins and equipped with my stop-motion devices. Figs. 1 and 1 are detailviews. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the lower portion of the same machine, the complete machine being composed of the parts shown in Fig. 1 superposed on the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 just below the bobbin-carrier, parts of the knitting-machine being also broken away Fi 4 is a detail view of part of the belt-shiftirFg devices looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The belt-shifting mechanism forms no part of my invention; but as my stop-motion 00- operates therewith it will be necessary for a complete understanding of the stop-motion to briefly describe said belt-shifting mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, P is a loose, and P a tight,pulley, and P a forked belt-shifter fixed to and sliding with rod 15. A coil spring P on rod 15 tends to force the beltshifter outwardly; but the belt-shifter is normally held in by the toggle-arms 14 14, which connect the inner end of the rod 15 to a shaft bearing a lever-handle 17, which toggle-arms are normally held in a position above the rod 15, as seen in Fig. 2. If the toggle-arms are forced down, the spring 1? link 12, Figs. 4 and 5, with a short crank 11 on a vertical rock-shaft 10, which rises beside the knitting-head (see Fig. 2) and constitutes an old form of belt-shifter. My stopmotion device connects with and operates this rock-shaft 10 by means of an arm S, Figs. 2 and 3, which is clamped around the rock-shaft 10, and which arm is acted upon by the same electromagnetic devices shown and described in my former patent referred to. These consist of an electromagnet e, an armature a, arranged on the long end of an elbow-lever b, a spring 0, which holds the armature away from the magnet, and a springbolt 9. This bolt has an enlarged head that is caught and held by the toe of the elbow-lever; but whenever an electric circuit is closed through the electromagnet e the armature a is attracted, the toe of lever b is withdrawn from the head of the bolt 9, and the latteris thrown by its spring .9 forcibly against the arm S and deflecting it, as in dotted lines, turns the shaft 10 and operates the beltshifter to stop the machine.

Just above the knitting-machine in central position there is mounted a vertical standardy it, which is arranged to revolve in a well-known manner. The lower portion y of this standard carries the bobbin-support 3 with the bobbins g At the upper end of the lower portion y of the standard see Fig. 1) are mounted a set of radial arms 3 and at the upper end of the upper portion :1: of the standard are mounted a set of radial arms as. The lower set of radial arms y carry my stopmotion devices, which operate when the yarn becomes slack from breaking, and the upper set of radial arms x carry my stop-motion devices which operate when any unusual tension comes upon the yarn from a knot or obstruction on the yarn or when the yarn hangs upon the bobbin. These latter devices are also constructed and arranged to give relief to the tension on the yarn without stopping the machine, or if the tension is excessive they may also set into action the stop-motion devices.

I will first describe the stop-motion de- MAJ vices which operate when the yarn breaks and which are carried by the lower set of arms y. These stop-motion devices are shown in detail in the perspective view, Fig. 1*.

A metal bar J is supported in a vertical pendent position from the outer end of each arm 'y by means of a bolt K, having a slotted yarn-eye it on one side oi the bar and a washer 7c and nut A, which latter is screwed upon the threaded end of the bolt. Between the bar J and washer it" is clamped the hanger-hook L, which is ordinarily lound upon the end of the arm y. The bolt K, passing through the hook,with the bar J on one side and the washer 76 on the other, makes an adjustable connection that allows the bar J to be rotarily adjusted in the hook about a horizontal axis, while the hook itself may be turned about a vertical axis in the arm, so as to change the plane of the hook, as hereinafter described.

Near the bottom of the bar J is pivoted. the droplever P, which is made of very light material and has two bent hooks at its upper end, one of which, B, is arranged above the slotted yarn-eye k and the other of which is arranged below the slotted yarn-eye. On the lower end 01 the bar J there is a yarn-guide U, made of coiled wire, and projecting laterally from. the bar J below the upper yarn-eye is a pin Near the lower end of the bar J is mounted an insulated screw H, which when the drop-lever is in its normal upright position is out of contact with the drop-lever but when the drop lever falls outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the lower end I of this drop-lever touches the screw H. This screw H and the lower end I of the droplever form the two contact-terminals of an electric circuit, which terminals by coming together operate the electromagnetic beltshifting devices below. The circuit is made to the screw H by means of an independent wire 6, while lever P, bar J, hook L, the arm at, and standard 0 a: form the other con ductor.

For threading up the yarn in the circuitclosing device shown in Fig. 1 the yarn t comes from the bobbin y below, then is in serted in wire guide U, then is passed around pinj and is caught in the lower hook B of the drop-lever, is then inserted laterally into the slotted yarn-eye 7c, is then caught around the upper hook B of the drop-lever, and then passes on upwardly to the devices above. N ow so long as tension is maintained on the yarn t, the drop-lever is held in a nearly vertieal position but if the yarn breaks the droplever falls outwardly, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and this brings the terminals H and I of the electric circuit into contact.

By hanging the bar J in vertical position in the hook and adjusting it rotarily in the hook, so that the upper end of the drop-lever trends out a little, the prompt fall 01 the drop lever is insured. This drop may be made quicker or more sensitive by increasing the inclination of the bar J from the vertical, or the plane of the hook L may be slightly changed so as to cause centrifugal action of the arm 1 in rotating to throw the drop-lever outwardly. This vertically-pen dent p osi tion of the devices in the hook and its rotary adjustment in the hook and the turning of the hook about its own vertical axis may be made to secure any degree of delicacy or sensitiveness in the adjustment that may be desired. It will be seen that the drop-lever constitutes a contact-piece which normally stands in upright position,with the contacts at the lower end open when the tension of the yarn is on' and the latter is threaded in position for knitting, and. this standing position imposes but little friction on the yarn; but when the yarn breaks the fall of this drop lever makes a positive closing of the terminals of the circuit at the lower end, and this fall is eflected both by the gravity of the drop-lever and the centrifugal action.

The object of having the two yarn-hooks B Bone above and. the other below the yarneyeis to give greater support to the drop-lever when the yarn is running, as one hook is not suflieient to hold the drop-lever in vertical position when running very fine yarn, since fine yarn is so much weaker and will not bear the weight of the drop-lever with one hook. The lower wire guide U serves to keep the yarn directed toward the yarn-eye above and prevent it from becoming entangled about the bar when unwinding from the bobbin below.

I will now describe the circuit-elosing devices, which are arranged at the top of the standard a: and seen in Fig. 1. This consists in a wire arm A for each radial arm as, the wire arm being pivoted near the center under the radial arm 90 and being bent down and then up again and terminating in an upturned hook at its outer end. This end plays in a downwardly projecting yoke shaped guide 71, which is carried on the outer end of each radial arm as. This guide prevents the light wire arms from being bent sidewise from the drag of the yarn. A spring 25 is attached to the lowest part of the middle bend of the wire arm and has a screw-shank extending through an eye on the arm 00 and is secured there adjustably by nuts, by which the tension of the spring on the arm. may be regulated.

On the standard at, just below the radial arms at, is held by a set-screw g" a verticallyadjustable hub l carrying on top of the same an insulated plate G, having springarms G extending out under the wires A and arranged to be struck by the same when the latter are bent down, as shown in dotted lines. The insulated plate G is electrically connected to the circuit-wire 6 and forms one terminal of the electric circuit, while the wire A, in electrical connection with the standard, forms the other terminal, and when the wire A touches the plates G G an electric circuit is closed to set inaction the electromagnetic belt-shifter. as before described.

As the yarn leaves the lower circuit-closer, Fig. 1 it rises to and is hooked over the end of the wire arm A outside of the guide Z. It then passes down through a yarn-guide D and then through another one, D below the bobbins, and thence to the needles of the machine. The yarn-guides D D are constructed as perforated disks mounted upon the standard y, as seen in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1 again, it will be seen that if a slight strain comes upon the yarn it merely pulls down the yielding arm A to a dotted position A, which does not close an electric current, but furnishes by the yielding of the arm the necessary relief to the yarn. If, however, the strain on the yarn is excessive from a knot or the hanging of the yarn on the bobbin, the downward pull carries the arm down to the dotted position A which causes the arm A to come in contact with the plates G G and close the electric circuit to stop the machine. At the same time the yarn is, by means of the yoke-guide Z, stripped off the outer end of the arm A, and a large amount of slack yarn is thus given to the machine to beknitted up while the machine is coming to a full stop from its momentum. This avoids pulling holes in the fabric and also avoids the breaking of the yarn, which latter may after the obstruction is removed be again looped over the wire arm A without having to join any severed ends.

By adjusting the hub G higher or lower on the standard by means of the binding-screw g the electrical contact may be made sooner or later in the descent of the arm. The outer ends or fingers G of the insulated plate G are formed as springs, which yield downwardly when touched by the arms A.

The electric circuits are made as follows: Referring to Fig. 8, the numerals 6 and 7 are the power-lines leading from a battery or generator X. The wire 7 goes to a spring 8 in contact with bolt 9, which bolt by wire 7" is connected to the metal standard y, (now see Fig. 1,) the arms y, hooks L, bar J, and drop-lever P as the positive terminals of the lower circuit-closer. The metal standard y is also in electrical connection with the standard :0 above the arms x and wire arms A as the positive terminals of the upper circuitclosers. The negative terminals are the plates G G for the upper circuit-closers and the screws H for the lower circuit-closers, which like terminals are respectively connected by wires 6 and 6 to. the wire 6*, which leads down to an insulated metal ring 'D, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) carried on the standard y below the bobbins. On this ring there presses a metal brush E, which is connected by wire 6, Fig. 3, to one of the bindingposts of the electromagnet e, the other binding-post being connected to the negative wire 6 of the supply-lines, so that when the opposite terminals of either of the circuitor attention on the part of the operative,

since it sets automatically when the beltshipping lever 17 is moved into position for starting the machine, the arm S being made to act upon and reset the spring-bolt 9 when everthe rock-shaft 10 is rotated through the manually-operated lever 17. An electriccircuit-closing device which closes circuit and stops the machine when the yarn is caught on the bobbin or a knot or bunch of yarn collects at the yarn-eye before the yarn is disengaged from its supporting-lever. It is not required that the yarn be released from the arm A to close the circuit; but it will close the circuit for very slight pulls Without disengaging the yarn from its support, thereby making it a more sensitive stopping device and at the same time less trouble to the operator, who is not required to replace the yarn on its support every time the machine stops. Another advantage in this form of circuit-closer is that the terminal G is adjustable on its supporting-standard and can be located at a point which will allow the arm to be pulled down a certain distance by the yarn when held by slight friction without closing the circuit and stopping the machine. This, too, prevents a sudden pull at the needles, which might cause the yarn to break at that point, making a hole in the fabric. The spring may be so delicately adjusted as to allow the arm to be pulled down through a certain space when slight friction occurs at the bobbin or at the yarn-eye and then return to its normal position automatically when the friction ceases without closing the circuit and stopping the machine, thus requiring less at tention from the operator, increasing the production, and preventing holes in the fabric by taking strain off the yarn at needles. WVhen a medium friction occurs at the bobbin or the yarn-eye, the arm may be pulled down far enough to reach the conductor-terminal G and stop the machine without disengaging the yarn from its support, thus saving labor and time of putting the yarn upon the supporting-arm again. However, when a very severe friction occurs, such as when yarn becomes hung fast on the cone, the arm will be pulled down so far as to allow the yarn to become disengaged and fall, allowing slack yarn to be knit up by the machine while coming to rest. By this prompt circuit-closer the action is quicker than where a series of levers must act in connection with two or more springs or where the machine must rotate a certain distance before the beltshifting action takes place. This also permits of a lower yarn-supporting standard nearer the reach of the operator, rendering the machine more steady and requiring no overhead support outside that of the machine. In applying this torm of circuitcloser to machines which have revolving yarn-supports (as on so-called double-feed ribbers and underwear-kintters) and using a spring-brush E, which bears against an insulated collecting ring or collar D, connected to the conductor-wire, the two halves of the circuit from the two sides of each circuitcloser are always in electrical connection with the battery. Hence the stop action is instantaneous, and it is not necessary for the machine to revolve a certain distance before the stopping action is transmitted to the belt-shipping device.

The form of drop-lever? used permits of its being attached by a bolt to a yarn-hook of the form shown in the drawings, which is generally found on most makes of machines, and the same may be turned at any angle in a horizontal plane. The drop-lever P being pivoted at one end of the supporting-bar J and this bar being attached by means of the slotted eyebolt K to an ordinary yarn-hook in the manner shown in the drawings, it can be rotated in a vertical plane and adjusted at any angle of inclination desired, allowing more or less inclination toward the side on which it drops, so that it is possible to allow a greater inclination when stiff heavy yarns are used, causing it to drop more promply and act in the shortest possible time, while for finer lighter yarns the angle of inclination may be lessened to any degree desired, causing as slight friction at this point (through eye and hooks) as is possible. The bar may be rotated also in a horizontal plane by turning the yarn-hook L on its stem where it passes through the crossarm. This adjustment allows centrifugal force to act upon the drop-lever as much or as little as may be desired. By reason of this there will be least pressure on the yarn due to centrifugal force exerted through the loops and yarn-eye, and the machine may be run at any desired speed, and at the same time the drop-levers may be adjusted at a sufficient angle to fall most quickly when released.

By having the drop-lever of the form shown it affords two hearings on the stud on which it rotates, thus keeping the loops in perfect alinement with yarn-eyebolt 76, causing least resistance from centrifugal force. Being made of thin sheet metal, very slight friction is caused at the stud on which it is pivoted.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to securebyLetters Patent, is

1. An electric stop-motion for knitting machines, comprising a vertical standard with two sets of radial arms arranged one above the other, a set of circuit-closers mounted on the lower arms each arranged to have the thread pass through it from below to a point above and to operate by a break in the yarn, and a second set of circuit-closers mounted on the upper arms and arranged to hold a loop of the yarn coming from the lower circuit-closers and to operate by an undue tension on the arms substantially as described.

2. An electric stop-motion for knitting machines, comprising a vertical standard with two sets of radial arms arranged one above the other, a set of circuit-closers mounted on the lower arms and consisting of apendent metallic support having a gravitating bar through which the yarn rises from below to a point above and arranged to close a circuit by the break in the yarn, and a second set of circuitclosers mounted on the upper arms and constructed as yielding arms hooked into a loop of the yarn to close circuit by an undue tension on the yarn.

3. An electric stop-motion for knittingmachines, comprising a vertical standard with two sets ofradial arms arranged one above the other, a set of circuit-closers mount; ed on the lower arms and arranged to act by a break in the yarn, and a second set of circuit-closers mounted on the upper arms and arranged to close circuit by an undue tension on the yarn, said circuit-closers consisting of radial resilient arms bearing hooks on their outer ends and connected to the standard at their inner converging ends, and a contact plate mounted on the standard below the inner converging ends of said arms substantially as described.

4. In an electric stop-motion for knittingmachines, a circuit-closeroperating trointension on the yarn and consisting of a spring actuated and yielding arm with a hook at its end, forming one terminal of an electric circuit, a guide for holding the outer end of said arm and for stripping the yarn from the hook, and a contact-plate arranged within the range of movement of the said arm and forming the other terminal of an electric circuit as described.

5. In an electric stop-motion for knitting machines, a c1rcu1t-closer operating from ten ICC ing a hook at its outer end, a spring for lifting this arm and a guideat the outer end of the arm arranged to strip the yarn from the arms when the latter descends substantially as described.

6. In an electric stop-motion for knittingmachines, a circuit-closer operating from ten sion of the yarn consisting of a central standard bearing one or more rigid radial arms, one or more yielding arms mounted at their inner ends upon the standard and thence extending first downwardly and outwardly and then upwardly and outwardly and terminating in a hook at their outer ends, a spring interposed between the rigid radial arms and the yielding arm at a point above the lower bend of the yielding arm, and an insulated contact-plate mounted on the standard below the yielding arms and adapted to be touched thereby when thelatter are depressed substantially as described.

7. In an electric stop-machinefor knittingmachines, a circuit closing device operating from a break in the yarn and consisting of a metal bar having a yarn-guide at its lower end, a bolt with yarn-eye at its upper end with clamping device as described, an insulated contactpiece arranged near the bottom of the bar and a drop-lever pivoted at .its lower end near the insulated contact-piece and having at its upper end two hooks one arranged above and the other below the yarn eye substantially as described.

8. An electric stop-motion for knittingmachines, comprising a rotating standard bearing one or more radial arms and a cir cuit-closer mounted on the radial arm and having a movable contact-piece, said circuitcloser being adjustably mounted on the said arm to permit modification of the effect of centrifugal action upon the movable contactpiece substantially as described.

9. An electric stop-motion for knittingmachines comprising a series of rotating arms having at their outer ends pendent hooks, combined with electric circuit-closers adjustably hung Within said hooks substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. An electric stop-motion for knittingmachines, comprising arotating standard bearing one or more radial arms, and a circuit-closer arranged upon said radial arm and having a pivoted contact-piece, the circuitcloser being adjustably supported about an axis to permit change in the plane of action of the movable contact-piece substantially as described.

ARTHUR LOW PATTERSON.

Witnesses:

J. A. GRovEs, S. D. ANsWooD. 

